Hawkeye Downs Speedway Celebrates 100 Years of Racing With Dirt Track Events This Fall
In honor of its 100th anniversary of racing in Eastern Iowa, Hawkeye Downs Speedway is returning to its roots by bringing dirt back onto its quarter-mile track this fall for a series of special events.
From its founding in 1925 until the mid-1980s, Hawkeye Downs was home to dirt track racing before transitioning to an asphalt race track. This fall, fans will have the rare opportunity to experience racing as it began a century ago.
Hawkeye Downs is teaming up with Benton County Speedway to produce a thrilling lineup of races, including IMCA Racing Night on September 27th, Open Wheel Night on October 4th, a two-day racing event known as the “Dirt at the Downs Classic” on October 10th and 11th, plus Ken Schrader Racing Night, featuring NASCAR legend Ken Schrader, on October 18th.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate the history of Hawkeye Downs and honor the generations of fans, drivers, businesses, and families who have made this track what it is today,” explains Benton County Speedway Race Director Rick Dripps. “It’s all new and exciting entertainment for our communities across Eastern Iowa.”
In addition to these major race nights, Hawkeye Downs will host Honus Motorsports’ Demo Derby and Boneshaker Shutdown Vintage Drag Races and Car Show in September, and the Prairie Pullers’ Mini Tractor Pull, as well as a 200-lap dirt enduro race in October.
“We’re bringing back the dirt for a true throwback to our early days of racing,” shares Hawkeye Downs Race Director Brian Gibson. “We want to stay focused on creating new memories for fans of all ages this fall and for many years to come.”
Hawkeye Downs continues to operate full-time as part of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series during the summer, while also hosting regular enduro events, car shows, and rentals throughout the year. A full calendar of special dirt events, sponsorship information, and public ticket details can be found at hawkeyedowns.org/dirtatthedowns.
